20 December 2024
A Royal Australian Air Force C130-J Hercules has made its first ever airdrop over the Republic of Palau as part of Operation Christmas Drop, coinciding with 30 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Pacific island nation.
The 37 Squadron C130-J aircraft had been invited by the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) to join it in delivering this year's first-aid bundles to kick off the 73rd year of the US-led humanitarian operation.
The US and Australian Hercules aircraft dropped Christmas bundles over Palau's remote islands of Koror and Skojo, with Australian Ambassador Richelle Turner and local islanders and Australian residents watching on from below.
RAAF Detachment Commander Flight Lieutenant Eleanor Bradshaw said it was an honour for 37 Squadron to join the US in the mission over Palau, which is traditionally the first island that gets an airdrop bundle as part of Operation Christmas Drop.
“In our history of participating in Operation Christmas Drop, the RAAF has actually never air-dropped over Palau, so it was quite a historic day and we were grateful to share that experience with the United States,” she said.
Overall, the five nations involved in airdrops for this year’s Operation Christmas Drop – the US, Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea – dropped 220 bundles over 58 islands, reaching an estimated 29,000 islanders.
The aircraft operated out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to reach the remote communities spread across the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, covering an area of about 6.1 million square kilometres.
Each of the 220 bundles weighed about 200kg and contained donated items such as fishing nets, construction materials, food items, clothing, toys and school supplies. Some of the boxes packed by the Australian contingent also included donations from members of 37 Squadron.
'It’s an incredibly rewarding task that gives everyone involved a true sense of purpose.'
Flight Lieutenant Bradshaw said that airdrops were a fundamental skill for all C-130 pilots, but also involved meticulous mission planning by the team to accurately position bundles over remote islands that they may never have flown across.
“The islands themselves have quite unique drop zones, so they could be dropping to a really thin strip of sand. They could be dropping to a very clear patch in the middle of the island, or even into the lagoon next to the islands,” she said.
Christmas Drop also provided the C-130 loadmasters with a chance to test their procedures in a less familiar operational environment while coordinating closely with US Air Force and other partner nations.
Warrant Officer Ryan Wilson, of 37 Squadron, said while there was a small degree of friendly rivalry, camaraderie among the various crews was excellent.
“Everyone is here to support each other to achieve the mission and at the end of each day it is not uncommon for the different nations’ crews to be socialising together, and at times those close professional relationships can forge into genuine friendships,” Warrant Officer Wilson said.
Australia first took part in Operation Christmas Drop in 2015 and participated from 2015-2019 and again in 2022. Last year it sent observers to the activities.
According to Warrant Officer Wilson, it remains one of the most rewarding operations to be involved in.
“Ask any Australian C-130 operator what is the most rewarding part of their job and they will tell you that it is the chance to carry out humanitarian aid-related missions,” he said.
“It’s an incredibly rewarding task that gives everyone involved a true sense of purpose.”
Operation Christmas Drop first started in 1952 and is the world’s longest-running humanitarian airdrop activity. At the start of each drop, the community, military personnel and families gather for ‘Bundle Build Day’ to pack the donated goods and personalise the boxes with drawings and festive greetings.
